MANKATO, Minn. — Less than 24 hours after suffering a minor calf injury as an innocent bystander to a shooting, Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph was back at the team’s training camp.

Joseph was hurt during a nightclub shooting early Saturday morning in Minneapolis, following Minnesota’s 10-6 win over Oakland in the preseason opener Friday night at TCF Bank Stadium. In a statement released Sunday morning, Joseph said he was “extremely thankful that this was a minor injury” and expects to be back on the field “in the near future.”

While Joseph did not practice Sunday at Minnesota State Mankato and it remains to be seen whether he will play in any of the three remaining preseason games, Vikings general manager Rick Spielman said he is sure Joseph will be back for the Sept. 7 regular-season opener at St. Louis.

“Linval was innocent a bystander,” Spielman said. “He suffered a minor injury to his calf. He was immediately taken to the hospital and then released. Linval came back to training camp (Saturday night) and had our doctors and trainers look at him. And we expect him to make a full recovery and definitely be ready for the regular season. … What is most important is that Linval was not seriously hurt. We’re very fortunate that his injury was just minor.”

Joseph was one of nine people wounded, two seriously, in the shooting at 400 SoundBar in Minneapolis’ Warehouse District. Minneapolis Police Assistant Chief Matt Clark said the shooting was gang-related and that one of the victims was targeted by the shooter.

“I appreciate everyone’s thoughts and concerns over the past 24 hours,” Joseph said in his statement. “I am extremely thankful that this was a minor injury for me. As the team has communicated, this was an unfortunate situation where I, along with several others, was an innocent bystander to a senseless act. My thoughts are with all of the victims at this time. I am looking forward to getting back onto the field with my teammates in the near future.”

When Vikings players first learned about the shooting, there was shock. That turned to relief when it became apparent Joseph’s injury wasn’t serious.

“When I heard about it, I kind of freaked out,” said fullback Jerome Felton. “It was good to see it was a minor injury. It’s just a tough, tough situation. … It seemed like a wrong-place, wrong-time type of thing. It’s lucky he’s OK. Obviously, it was a scary situation.”

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Joseph attended a team meeting Sunday morning. Joseph was not on crutches and was walking fine.

“He’s pretty good, really, for the most part,” Zimmer said. “He was in the meeting (Sunday) morning and paying attention to what corrections he needs to make when he was playing. … I’m sure it shook him up, like it shook all of us up.”

Zimmer said his first reaction when he heard about Joseph was, “Oh my God,” before it turned to, “Thank God he’s OK.” Zimmer called Joseph a “terrific young man.”

Joseph, Minnesota’s most decorated free-agent signee, inked a five-year, $31.5 million contract last March. He’s in line to be the starting nose tackle.

Spielman and Zimmer both emphasized that Joseph had nothing to do with the incident.

“There was no wrong done by Linval,” Spielman said. “He just happened to be an innocent bystander.”

Zimmer said the Vikings constantly talk to the players about being aware of their surroundings because of their stature in the community.

“We have to make sure we understand where we’re going,” Zimmer said. “We’ve got to make sure that we understand it. There’s a chance that people try to make a name for themselves by doing something to somebody, a high-celebrity guy, and we just have to make sure we take of each other and we have to know where we’re at and where we want to go.”

The Vikings had Saturday off before returning to training camp Sunday. Their last day in Mankato is Thursday.

“It’s scary,” linebacker Jasper Brinkley said about the incident involving Joseph. “It could have easily been anybody. But the greatest thing is we have him here.”

The Vikings play their second preseason game Saturday against Arizona at TCF Bank Stadium. If Joseph can’t play, he could be replaced in the lineup by Fred Evans.

“We’ll see how it goes,” Spielman said about whether Joseph might get into any more preseason games. “I know it’s a minor injury and hopefully we’ll expect him out here quickly, when he’s ready.”

Chris joined the Pioneer Press in 2013 to cover the Vikings. He was a longtime NBA writer with the Akron Beacon Journal, Rocky Mountain News and AOL FanHouse. Before coming to Minnesota, he covered the Miami Heat and Dolphins for Fox Sports. Chris has won six awards in the past three Pro Football Writers of America contests. Chris is a graduate of Northwestern University, where he spent his college years watching the losingest team in the history of Division I-A football.

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